Chapter Sixteen: Invitation to Enroll in Correspondence Education

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“Detective, now that we have resolved the incident caused by the poet-level relic and helped you deal with the trouble surrounding your predecessor's death, let us return to the original topic.”

The doctor with blue eyes, seated on a single armchair, looked at Shade:

“What is your current opinion of Saint Byron’s Comprehensive Academy? Since the awakening period for ring sorcerers is only 72 hours, the True God Church and the three great academies primarily recruit from core believers and industries affiliated with the academies. This also makes observation more convenient. However, both parties do not mind admitting fresh blood entirely unrelated to their own factions, though their training differs from that of trusted gifted individuals.”

“Could you give an example of how ordinary people like us, originally unconnected to the mystical, are treated after joining the Church or the Academy?”

Shade pondered, chewing over the implications and sensed that complete trust was not yet granted.

“Of course. For the True God Church, ring sorcerers who are not devout believers must not leave their parish within ten years of official appointment, and support from the Church is limited. It takes at least twenty years to be fully trusted.

“For the three great academies, the conditions are more complex. We cultivate gifted individuals originally outside the mystical world through correspondence courses.

“All external students undertake distance learning. They cannot directly access the Academy itself, nor enter its premises. Depending on the region, correspondence ring sorcerers are divided into small groups of three to seven members. When a group has at least one sixth-ring sorcerer, one fifth-ring sorcerer, one fourth-ring sorcerer, and more than five members, the group as a whole can pass the test and formally enter the Academy. It must be the entire group; no one can be left behind. This ensures mutual supervision and guarantee within the group.”

The doctor’s explanation made Shade raise an eyebrow.

“So, if I join Saint Byron’s Comprehensive Academy…”

Dr. Schneider nodded in approval of Shade’s inference and pointed to himself:

“Then the group I am in will once again have five ring sorcerers. We currently have four. Specific information about the others cannot be disclosed before you join. But I promise—once you reach third ring, you can undergo the formal entrance examination. We are still far from meeting other conditions.”

This was why Bill Schneider was so keen to guide Shade into the Academy—“wild” gifted individuals were truly hard to find, only slightly less difficult than finding a needle in a haystack.

Seeing Shade still deep in thought, the doctor continued:

“Mr. Hamilton, I am very satisfied with you—your background, your origins, and your attitude toward the mystical. A few hours ago, when we saw that tragic scene together, your compassion and feigned composure were quite commendable. Please give my proposal careful consideration. The conditions here are quite favorable.”

“I don’t understand why the True God Church and the Academy are so… wary of people like us?”

Shade still hesitated; outsiders find it difficult to trust others in the early days of entering this world.

“You have not become a ring sorcerer yet, so you don’t realize how dangerous this world is. The world is like a mad ocean; the normal human world is just a small isolated island. Ring sorcerers can dive deeply into that ocean, gaining more, but they are also more prone to madness, more susceptible to whispers from eldritch entities and the malevolent distortions of nature. Even though we have ‘another self’ to resist those distortions and oddities, ring sorcerers not trained from childhood are more likely to take a wrong step and lose control entirely—that would be truly terrifying.”

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The doctor’s explanation was brief, as if afraid to elaborate too much. Shade sensed that the worldview here was not only about steam and occultism, but also incorporated elements of agnosticism or perhaps Cthulhu mythos.

“Is it possible, then, to become a ring sorcerer naturally without guidance and training?”

Shade asked again.

“Absolutely not. You don’t understand what a ring sorcerer really is. As we mentioned this morning, if a ring sorcerer’s talent is not guided within 72 hours of awakening, many outcomes occur. In most cases, madness ensues; in some, death; and in extremely rare instances, they become strange entities—monsters made of flesh and blood, or frenzied wailing spirits. They are the kind of terrifying beings you only need to glimpse to have nightmares.”

Hearing this, Shade fully grasped the situation. Sitting upright, he summarized:

“My time is running out. I must decide quickly. Moreover, if I refuse to join Saint Byron’s Comprehensive Academy, you definitely won’t let me leave with today’s memories.”

Shade looked at the doctor, whose blue eyes cautiously nodded.

“As I mentioned, students of the three great academies conceal their identities within True God Church territories. Yes, if you refuse, I will use methods I cannot disclose to erase your memories. I specialize in manipulating emotions and dreams, thus am skilled at altering memories. Of course, this is because you are still an ordinary person. It would be harder with a ring sorcerer.”

Shade did not interpret this as a threat. These measures were for self-preservation; he understood no one should accommodate him.

“If my memories of today are erased, I wouldn’t know about the 72-hour limit…”

He analyzed further.

“Yes, I suppose Tobesque City’s mental sanatorium might have a new guest soon. But don’t worry—I have acquaintances among the staff at all mental sanatoriums in Tobesque City… Just joking, detective, we can relax a bit.”

The doctor carefully assessed:

“I won’t force you to join Saint Byron’s Comprehensive Academy, but as adults, we must all bear the consequences of our choices. Besides, compared to the Church, being a correspondence ring sorcerer is actually freer. As an ordinary person without faith, once you enter the Church’s training system, you may receive care but lose freedom of action.

“Correspondence ring sorcerers, however, only need to pass exams each semester, earn enough required credits, complete practical work for sufficient practical credits, and avoid acts like murder or arson. The Academy doesn’t care what else we do.

“Do you now understand the difference between Academy ring sorcerers and those from the Church?”

“I understand.”

Shade nodded. Based on the doctor’s words alone, the Academy seemed more advantageous.

“The three great arcane academies are Saint Byron’s Comprehensive Academy, specializing in containment and use of relics; Zaraswen Academy, proficient in elemental spirit runes—essentially the magic of stories; and Sekseis Advanced Medical Academy, knowledgeable in everything but particularly skilled in alchemy.

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“Mr. Hamilton, this is not only my opportunity but yours as well. To enter the ring sorcerer training system through official channels rather than through cults or secret societies—you know how rare that is?”

The doctor spoke again, skilled in persuasion.

Hesitating, Shade nodded once more. Though the original owner’s mind might not have been sharp, as an outsider in this world and barely in his twenties, he had his own judgment:

“Then, how can you prove that what you’ve told me so far is true? Until now, all I have is what you’ve said.”

Shade asked seriously.

Though doubting the doctor, Dr. Schneider was actually pleased; it meant the young man was tempted.

“I can request the Academy to show you the poet-level (level 5) relic to prove my words. But once I do, the Academy will know we have discovered a new gifted individual. They won’t force you to enroll, but they will record your identity. So, do you want to see the poet-level relic ‘The Dream of Saint Byron’s Comprehensive Academy’?”

“May I… have some time to think? Two hours? No, one hour. I want to carefully consider what happened today.”

The information was overwhelming; Shade could not decide immediately. Yet his inclination was to trust the doctor, hence the request for time.

“No problem. For an ordinary person, this is indeed a lot to take in. You can think here or leave if you prefer. I happen to have some matters to attend to, so we…”

The doctor glanced at the clock in the corner—a pendulum inside a glass case, its lower part a heart-shaped metal piece:

“Let’s meet here at 2 p.m.”

“No problem, I’ll stay here.”

Shade replied; it made no difference where he thought things over. If the doctor wished him harm, he wouldn’t have waited until now—the sanatorium earlier was an excellent place to kill.

“If you stay, there are some enrollment materials inconvenient to remove that you can look through. I’ll be back after handling my matters. If you need anything, you can ask Mrs. Carla.”

Mrs. Carla was the middle-aged maid who had just brought tea.